Cardiovascular risks and hazards associated with deep space exploration

Area of Science:

• Space medicine
• Cardiovascular physiology
• Astrobiology

Background:

• Space flight presents unique environmental stressors: microgravity, ionizing radiation, isolation, and confinement.
• Missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) involve prolonged exposure to hazards like high-energy and atomic number (HZE) particle radiation.
• Distant missions increase logistical challenges, including limited medical access and supplies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the cardiovascular disease risks associated with deep-space exploration.
• To identify potential cardiovascular challenges during and after long-duration space missions.
• To inform future research and countermeasures for astronaut cardiovascular health.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on space travel and cardiovascular effects.
• Analysis of known physiological responses to spaceflight stressors.
• Identification of potential cardiovascular risks for deep-space missions.

Main Results:

• Known space travel effects on the cardiovascular system include dysrhythmias, altered vascular compliance, dysautonomia, and inflammation.
• The manifestation of these risks and other unknown cardiovascular issues during deep-space missions is not fully understood.
• Prolonged exposure to radiation and microgravity may exacerbate cardiovascular conditions.

Conclusions:

• Deep-space exploration introduces significant and potentially unknown cardiovascular disease risks.
• Further research is crucial to understand and mitigate these risks for astronaut safety.
• Developing effective countermeasures is essential for enabling long-duration space missions.